Sweet Little Chatterbox

For Megumi Kamiyama, Manga and Anime were life.

Ever since she read the manga her father brought for her from Japan she was hooked badly! So much so that she decided that she would become a manga artist and publish her own work. It wasn’t easy for her since her parents had a different idea of what she should do for her future. They had encouraged her to be a doctor or an architect. At one time even her mother suggested she try to major in Fine Arts given Megumi’s love for drawing.

But she wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t… she had fallen in love with manga and she wasn’t going to back down. So, when she decided to leave her house after high school, she gathered her things, called her friends and began her life, and career, as a manga artist along with them.

Surprisingly, Megumi had earned herself some praise and a small fandom with her work! She had won a fairly important contest and gained some popularity under the name “Megu-chan”. She felt all the joy in the world after she’d been given the award for best new talent and began to make a living from her work. When her friends decided to take her for a celebration drink, they took her to a place called the Shakers Bar.

At first, Megumi felt awkward and shy. She didn’t feel like she belonged in a place like this. There were construction workers, sports enthusiasts, office managers - none of them were a part of her world, and she now felt out of place in their world.

All of that changed when she spoke to the owner of the bar, Chas Elegant. The memory of that meeting always made Megumi feel stronger and braver… even if just for a second.

“Welcome to the Shakers Bar… You won such an important contest? Congrats!... Tonight, drinks are on the house for Megumi and her friends”.

Megumi and her friends continued to visit the bar ever since. She’d never felt comfortable in bars or nightclubs. But this place was different, and she was grateful for Chas’ hospitality. Ever since that night, every person in the bar would greet them with kindness and respect - no matter how different they might be. It had become a routine in her life to visit the Shakers Bar whenever she had finished a big job or just wanted to unwind with her friends, or talk about any romantic escapades or mishaps they might’ve had.

That routine ended when Megumi laid eyes on the woman that had entered the bar on a busy night…

That perfect white dress… That perfect poise… That perfect stride as she moved unhindered by the masses around her… That look of royalty in her proud eyes…

Never in Megumi’s life would she ever consider she’d be looking at the Queen of the Silver Screen, Chelsea Loren herself, having a drink at the same bar she was in!

The more Megumi stared at The Lady, as her friends and most of the regulars began to call Miss Loren, the more she looked like someone out of a dream… a dream that came to life whenever she saw Chelsea’s movies and saw the powerful emotions she conveyed in her roles as a woman in love, a woman of strength and a woman that rules over a nation. She loved every movie Chelsea Loren was in… she had inspired some of Megumi’s work and drawings!

That night when Miss Loren had visited, Megumi noticed how she had spoken to Chas, watched as the barman was talking to the movie star while making one of his mystery drinks, saw the subtle changes in Miss Loren and the way she seemed to glow after she’d taken a sip from the cocktail Chas had made for her.

After that night, Megumi wanted to approach and talk to Chelsea… How often does one have a chance to meet a movie star they love!?

But… Megumi was WAY too shy! Sure, she had won an award, made some manga and earned some clout. But this was Chelsea Loren! SHE was known to the whole world! Megumi was just a manga artist… Surely Miss Loren wouldn’t even notice her…

Perhaps… perhaps there might be a way? Maybe she could ask Chas?

“No, no, no, no, no! You can’t Megumi!” Megumi had told herself countless times, “You can’t break the bar’s rules! You can’t just go over and ask!”

She was having a constant meltdown every time she “made up her mind” about walking over to Chas and asking for permission!

Her friends were always encouraging her to just go ahead and ask politely. But she always faltered. More than that! She felt like Chelsea had noticed her staring! Miss Loren probably hated her!

“Megu-chan? You look a lil' troubled there. Are you okay?” Jimmy, the jolly second barman, always made sure Megumi and her friends were well taken care of.

“Y-Yeah! S-Sorry Jimmy… I.. I just don't know if I…” Megumi fixed her glasses a bit and began to fidget with her pink hair.

“Hey, hey… it’s alright.” Jimmy was trying to act a bit like Chas, but the big smile and portly looks of his made him unique. “You know I’m the Perfect Wingman, right? Just tell me what’s up. I’ll make something happen.”

Megumi looked at Jimmy who was smiling broadly and winked reassuringly. Taking a deep breath, she seemed to calm down a bit and explained:

“I-I’d like to… to ask Chas permission to… to… to talk to… The Lady?” Megumi side glanced at Chelsea who was holding court in her usual spot in “Privacy Corner” and occasionally having a discreet conversation with Chas.

Jimmy tensed a little, but also side glanced towards Miss Loren. Chas had told Jimmy that he would be attending to Miss Loren whenever she came in and that she valued her privacy more than others. Still, for Jimmy Roberts, Wingman Extraordinaire, helping others make things happen was his life’s work.

He gave Megumi a thumbs up, smiled and said: “I’ll make it happen. Just wait for Chas to give the green light, okay?”

“W-wait! J-Jimmy!?” Megumi’s face turned red and her head steamed as Jimmy stood up and headed towards the bar again where Chas was. The poor girl was suddenly feeling her heart pounding in her chest! If Jimmy said he’d make something happen, it always happened! And now he was going to ask Chas, to ask Chelsea, to ask permission for her to speak to the Mega Movie Star!!!

“OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!OHMYGOD!” Megumi was pulling on her hair and panicking! She caught sight of Jimmy moving to where Chas was and began to whisper in his ear. There was a slight look of disapproval in Mr. Elegant’s face that made Megumi’s fear mount up to her throat!

Then Jimmy said something else and patted Chas’ shoulder. Both men shared a look Megumi couldn’t understand… Then she saw Chas looking directly at her. This made her heart stop for a second!

He then smiled and nodded at her…

While all of this was happening, Chelsea was indulging in another Queen of the Stars which Mr. Elegant had freshened up for her. Her plans had been moving forward, her thoughts moved towards her next endeavors and how she would make them happen.

However… her attention was often distracted by the stares of that “curious cat” she’d noticed several nights before. That girl with the pink hair, which was clearly dyed, her glasses and modern artist look, was constantly looking at her way and it was slowly becoming an annoyance for her. If not for the quiet and calming force of Mr. Elegant’s presence, and the rules of the bar, she would’ve stormed over and demanded that girl to stop gawking at her.

As she was biting into the cherry of her drink, Chelsea noticed that Mr. Elegant’s cohort, Jimmy, had approached the “curious cat”, shared a few words, left the girl in a panic then moved in to talk to Mr. Elegant. She managed to catch a small bit of their conversation…

“Chas… Megu-chan… wants to talk to the Lady…” Jimmy was trying to whisper, but the loud noises of the bar forced him to raise his voice a bit.

“Megumi will have to ask…” Chelsea had noticed Mr. Elegant’s look of disapproval. Clearly he wanted to protect Chelsea’s privacy.

“I know… but, the poor girl… you know she needs a push…” Jimmy then looked straight into Chas’ eyes, “Could you ask the Lady for permission?”

“The Lady prefers her privacy… You know the rules.” Chas’ face softened, as if reluctant to follow the rules he just spoke of.

“I know, Chas. And if it were anyone else I wouldn’t ask. But it’s Megu-chan, man! One of us!” Jimmy looked pleadingly at his boss and patted his shoulder. “Please…”

Chelsea noticed how Mr. Elegant had looked over at the “curious cat”, which she assumed was this “Megu-chan”, smiled and nodded.

“Oh dear…” Chelsea rolled her eyes and sighed dejectedly while Chas approached her respectfully.

“Pardon me, Miss Loren. But I’d like to ask for your permission.” Chas looked more apologetic than anything else.

“This girl, ‘Megu-chan’ was it? She wants to meet… am I right?” She looked at Chas with her usual arched eyebrow and arrogant expression, clearly exasperated by this possible intrusion.

“Yes. Her name is Megumi and she’s a great fan of your movies. She’s the artist I told you about a few nights before.” Chas sighed softly and looked at Miss Loren who was clearly not too pleased. “I have to ask, only because she’d never be able to ask herself, and… well… Jimmy insisted. So, just this once, will you allow Megumi to just talk to you, even for a moment? You can say no, and there would be no hard feelings.”

Normally, Chelsea would instantly reject these silly requests from silly little fans. Their constant need to approach and talk and take pictures had made her impervious to the heartfelt requests from those who believed they had a higher moral ground than her.

But now, it was a bit different. This request hadn’t been from one of the sycophants that constantly asked for her favor, or the attempted “command” of a Hollywood executive with less intelligence than a brick.

This was Chester Elegant who was asking. The gentleman who had so effortlessly given her a taste of “Revival”. Plus, he was asking quite respectfully… Even when he was the owner of this bar and could make the rules whatever he wanted, he was doing his best to respect these rules… and, only in extreme situations like these, bend them.

Chelsea sighed and took another sip from her drink. A soft nod was given…

“Just don’t leave me alone with this girl. I don’t want to demolish her tiny bit of bravery with a simple glance.” She slid her martini glass forward to request a refill.

“Personally I prefer when people show these tiny bits of bravery, ma’am.” Chas smiled as she refilled Chelsea’s drink. “Oftentimes I’ve seen that these are the greatest acts of bravery.”

“You’re quite the philosopher, aren’t you, Mr. Elegant?” Chelsea flashed a small sardonic smile.

“Only during Happy Hour, ma’am.” Chas chuckled and turned to look at Megumi who, after talking with Jimmy for a second time, was paralyzed in her chair until Chas signaled her to approach.

When Megumi saw Jimmy approaching her after he talked to Chas, her heart began to beat like a rabbit’s! For the poor shy girl, the idea of meeting a movie star she idolized was almost like meeting a Goddess! Then Chas signaled her after he had spoken to the Lady and gestured her to come closer!

“Yabai! YABAI!” Megumi stood frozen after Jimmy patted her shoulder gently, giving her a little push to take a step forward. She grabbed hold of her bag filled with her sketch books and concept arts and slowly put one foot in front of the other…

For a moment, the poor manga artist felt like she was walking to the principal’s office back in high school. Everyone looked at her and gave her a nod of encouragement… as if they knew what kind of punishment was in store for her.

The closer she walked towards “Privacy Corner”, the more she saw the presence of Chelsea Loren suddenly become larger than the building itself! And poor Megumi was only a speck of sand in the vast sea!

When she reached the spot, she saw Chas’ calming smile aiming at her while Miss Loren sipped on her drink, as if unaware of Megumi’s presence. She noticed Chas calling her over for a moment.

“Hey, Megumi.” The barman looked at her straight in the eye to try and steady her nerves, “Miss Loren has agreed to meet you. Just try to be clear and straight to the point, alright? This is a rare opportunity for you - Don’t waste it.”

Megumi then felt as if guided by the hand of Destiny itself and found herself sitting one chair away from Chelsea Loren, the Queen of the Silver Screen herself.

“So…” Miss Loren turned her attention towards Megumi. Her commanding presence falling over the girl like a ton of steel, “Mr. Elegant has told me you wished to speak to me. Well then? Speak.”

Megumi suddenly froze on the spot! She had spoken to her! Was this real!? Miss Loren has spoken to little Megu-chan!

“Umm… errmm… I… I… umm…” The manga artist began to pull at her clothes and fidgeted nervously.

“It’s alright, Megumi. Remember, in this bar, we’re all equal right?” Chas smiled at Megumi, but the message was directed to Chelsea who caught the meaning in his statement.

“Y-Yes! Y-You’re right! T-Thanks, Chas.” Megumi turned her eyes and met the powerful gaze of the movie star. Her fear suddenly vanished when Chelsea’s expression had softened a bit. “Gomen nasai! M-My name is Me-Megumi Kamiyama! It’s a pleasure to shpeak wiff you!”

“OH NO! I bit my tongue! I’m DONE FOOOOOR!” Megumi’s face showed utter defeat after she embarrassed herself before her idol!

“Kamiyama is it? That means ‘God Mountain’, doesn’t it? And Megumi stands for “blessing”, correct?” Chelsea smiled with a bit of pride as she remembered the words.

Megumi’s eyes opened widely as she stared at Chelsea who continued to act as if she had made the most simple explanation.

“Y-You… you speak Japanese!?”

“I had to practice it for a while when I was preparing for that movie I made in Japan - ‘Midnight Moon’. So… Megumi Kamiyama - ‘Blessing of God Mountain’. Your parents must have quite a poetic mind.” For the first time, Chelsea felt she had to smile at the young woman who was surprised but also a bit embarrassed.

“T-Thank you, Miss Loren! And yes! They do!” Megumi’s fear had finally vanished.

“So tell me, Megumi Dear, what sort of questions do you have for me, my curious little cat?” Chelsea’s tone of voice was slowly regaining some sass and ice to it, until she noticed the side glance from Chas that reminded her…

“Take it easy on her…”

“Oh! I have like a million questions!” With the brightness returning to her eyes, Megumi pulled out from her bag a notepad where she had actually written the questions she’d ask to Chelsea if she ever had the chance! Now’s that chance! “First of all… I.LOVE.YOUR.FILMS! Midnight Moon was my FAVORITE! So! When you went to Tokyo for that film, was it difficult to adapt to the use of a kimono? Did you get the keep those kimonos? If so! Do you keep them in your wardrobe? What was your favorite dish when you were there? Did you get to enjoy the sakura trees in full bloom? And also-!”

Chelsea was clearly not ready for this kind of assault! When Megumi said she had “a million questions” she thought it was just hyperbole. But this girl was actually bombarding her, non-stop, with question after question!

For a moment, the movie star felt her anger boiling over! It was always the same! Everyone wanted a piece of her! And no one was willing to see beyond what she was rather than who she is!

While the girl was still talking without a filter, Chelsea could see that Megumi was not stopping at all! She was a freight train without any brakes!

*AHEM!*

Chelsea turned to look at the source of the noise. It was Chas who caught her eye and noticed him gesturing to her to try and answer… gently.

Before she allowed her anger to take over, Chelsea took a sip of her drink, held her hand up towards Megumi and spoke in a firm tone of voice:

“Stop, my sweet little chatter box!”

This command made Megumi freeze on the spot and realized that she had overwhelmed Miss Loren with all of her questions! The embarrassment was clearly painted on Megumi’s face as she used her hand to cover blushing cheeks.

“I-I’m so sorry, Miss Loren! I-I didn’t mean to-”

“It is quite alright, Megumi Dear. I will answer -some- questions, but remember that I only have two ears and one small glass of patience. So, if you can narrow down your questions to the ones that matter to YOU the most, then I think we can both do something more manageable.” Chelsea slid her empty glass to Chas, which was immediately refilled by the barman as he continued to observe the two ladies speaking.

“Oh! I-I understand! Sorry… Umm… let me check…” Megumi began to flip the pages of her notepad when she heard Chelsea tapping her manicured finger on the bartop trying to get her attention.

“A-ta-ta-ta! No, Megumi Dear. You cannot capture the true essence of the REAL questions from a notepad.” Chelsea pointed at Megumi’s notepad, “Put that away, Dear. You won’t need that. Now! Put aside the silly movie trivia questions and truly ask me the question you are just burning to ask.”

Megumi blinked several times as she watched how Miss Loren was guiding her. Telling her to ask the “real questions”. One of them came into her mind…

“I-I know you’re a lover of fine art, Miss Loren. Do you have a favorite artist?”

“Ah! Such a beautiful question!” Chelsea smiled and closed her eyes for a second. “Well done, Megumi Dear. If I had to choose, I’d say I have two favorite artists: Monet and Vermeer. Monet has such a vibrant way of painting and Vermeer, well, this is my personal opinion, but he’s one of the finest portrait artists of all time.”

“Oh! Monet is one of my favorites too! I personally like Takeuchi-sama!” Megumi sighed with delight as she remembered the first time she saw the ‘Magical Girl’ anime and manga when she was a child.

“Takeuchi-sama? Is that a Japanese artist of renown?” Chelsea was, for once, caught off guard or unprepared.

Chas leaned in a bit to whisper at Chelsea: “It’s a manga artist from Japan. She’s famous for creating a long running series of ‘Magical Girl’ adventures about sailors and moons. I’m not that familiar with it though…”

“Ah! I… I see.” Chelsea was still a bit confused, but still wanted to humor Megumi. “And… this manga art you speak of, I take it you are also a ‘manga artist’, correct?”

“Oh yes! I’ve been a manga artist for a little over a decade! Here! Let me show you what I’ve made!” The enthusiastic girl immediately began to rummage through her bag looking for one of her sketch books.

“Yes, of course… take your time, Dear.” This was the moment Chelsea dreaded the most… Now she would have to put up a fake smile and ‘act’ her way through this moment when Megumi showed her some of her ‘art’. Chelsea had always believed that comic-book art was NOT true art. It had inspired a mountain of awful movies over the decades and their only capacity was to make money rather than convey an actress’ true talents.

“Here! Take a look! I… I kind of inspired this from watching you… Miss Loren.” Megumi placed her sketch book on the bartop and moved it so Chelsea could see it.

“Yes, yes… it’s quite ni-” Chelsea stopped herself from saying a condescending remark when she laid eyes on Megumi’s sketch book.

The woman she had drawn was Perfect!

That perfect white dress… That perfect poise… That look of royalty in her proud eyes… The defiance and the beauty conveyed by this simple drawing had astonished and captivated Chelsea! The drawing was almost speaking to her!

I am the Queen! Bow before me!

“M-Miss Loren? D-Do you… not like it? I knew it… I shouldn’t have drawn something this awful… I’m sorry!” Megumi was about to grab her sketch book when Chelsea took it as carefully as if she were picking up an artist’s greatest masterpiece in her hands and gazed upon it.

“Megumi Dear, this is gorgeous!” Chelsea turned to look at Megumi with a look of amazement and a smile on her lips. “I must admit I had always thought rather poorly about comic book artists. And how foolish I was…”

“M-Miss Loren…” Megumi couldn’t help but feel as if all of her years trying to do something in the world of manga and anime had been worth it by these few words.

Chelsea very carefully returned the sketch book to Megumi who took it back as if it had been an offering to the gods.

“Megumi Dear, don’t you ever allow anyone to look down upon your artform. Take pride in your accomplishments, my child. As a fellow artist I can tell you this: You are truly talented, and you must keep working to master your craft.” Chelsea nodded encouragingly at Megumi, but this was also a sign of dismissal.

“T-Thank you, Miss Loren! I-I truly appreciate you giving me a moment of your time! Thank you!” Megumi bowed profoundly from the waist in a show of utmost respect. She was about to close her sketchbook to walk away when Chelsea tapped her finger on the bartop again.

“One more thing,” Chelsea stood up from her chair to stand in front of Megumi, “if I ever decided to allow someone to draw my likeness into an animated picture, I want it to look just.like.this, Megumi Dear.”

Megumi’s eyes began to well up when she saw Chelsea giving her a smile full of pride and encouragement.

“I-I’ll do my best!”

“Run along now, dear. Feel free to visit me at this spot, from time to time.” Chelsea returned to her seat and her drink.

“Arigato gozaimasu!” Megumi bowed again in gratitude and walked away back to her friends.

Chas approached Miss Loren with a warm smile.

“Thank you for saying those words to Megumi. I know you might’ve had to force yourself to say so.”

“I meant every word, Mr. Elegant.” Chelsea took another sip of her drink and turned her powerful gaze towards the barman who kept smiling.

“I know, ma’am. I just wanted you to admit it.” Chas looked at Chelsea with a silent apology in his gaze.

“Still trying to be a philosopher, Mr. Elegant?”

Just as she said those words, Jimmy rang a bell which made the regulars cheer loudly.

“No, ma’am. It’s actually Happy Hour.”